Sunday 8th December 2019

venturing out of the nest box

​Hello friends and family
The penguin chicks are growing fast and mostly out of the danger zone for Diphtheria, so we have cut back on monitoring rounds to be able to get other things done. We did the rounds on Tuesday. 

Lots of gull chicks now!

​I have been out and about a bit this week. On Monday I went to the dentist in Oamaru and had to go back on Wednesday. While I was in town, I got a call about a penguin stranded on Katiki Beach so picked it up on my way home. Much to my surprize, there were traffic lights on Lighthouse road. We are always busier when the weather is terrible on the West Coast and this week has been no exception. Even so, it is very busy. 

Yes, traffic lights on lighthouse road!

​The promised rain stayed away so on Friday Michelle and Charlie came to do some watering.
By Saturday, SH 1 was closed with the Rangitata River bursting its banks and we still had no rain! Hiltrun and Elaine came to do the rounds yesterday and it really was hot. The chicks are coming out of their nests which is very cute. The last egg has hatched, giving us 52 chicks – 26 in each colony.

Handsome babies

Have a great week!
Rosalie
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